A/N- I know it has been far too long since my last update and I am truly sorry. It keeps getting harder to find time to write, and even then writer's block kicks in. Here it is, hope you enjoy, and of course reviews are lovely and appreciated!
"It's like a face that I hold inside
Like a face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face watches every time I lie
A face that laughs every time I fall
And watches everything
So I know that when it's time to sink or swim
That the face inside is hearing me
Right underneath my skin
It's like I'm paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin"- Papercut, Linkin Park
"Ron stop stomping, you'll wake mum for sure!"
Ginny rubbed her eyes sleepily, having just been awoken by Fred's voice outside her door.
"I wasn't stomping!" Ron hissed and continued his, rather loud, descent down the stairs.
Suddenly alert and excited, Ginny jumped out of bed. She dashed out the door and stood over the railing gazing at her three brothers conversing in the kitchen.
They were whispering harshly, but she could not make out the exact words they were saying. Giddy at the possibility of an adventure, she skipped gracefully down the steps, quite quieter that Ron had been.
"So where are we off to?" She asked her voice cheerful, but subdued so as not to wake her parents.
Fred, George and Ron turned around swiftly, each face grimacing at her appearance. Her bright smile dropped instantly and she scowled, placing her hands on her hips.
"Don't you dare say it!" She hissed.
George's grimace turned into a frown, "You can't come Ginny," He said firmly.
"You're too young," Fred added.
She took a deep breath, trying to control her temper. "That's what you always say! But I'm starting Hogwarts this year! Ron's only a year older than me anyway!" She whined.
Fred and George shrugged simultaneously, and Ron's eyes were pleading. "Ginny please don't make a fuss, we'll be back in a few hours. Please just go back to bed, you can't come."
Ginny's eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms over her chest. "Fine," She spat, and started up the stairs. She paused, contemplating whether to go up loudly on purpose to wake they're mother but decided against it.
Even though her brothers never included her on any of the fun, she just couldn't bring herself to ruin it for them.
Sliding back into bed with an intense feeling of disappointment she willed sleep to wash over her but it would not. Toxic thoughts filled her mind, her anger at her brothers burning strong. It wasn't fair that they never included her. They always treated her like a child, and Ron was only a year older anyway!
She scowled and turned on her side, staring longingly at the bright full moon in the sky outside. How she hated being the youngest, sheltered from the world and its endless possibilities. She wished she were Bill's age, always off on adventures, doing what he wanted with no one to stop him.
She huffed in annoyance. She knew sleep would not come now. Staring once again at the star filled sky, she threw off her covers and got out of her bed once more.
A good fly on Fred's broom would surely relax her riled up state.
Slipping on her shoes and creeping down the steps silently, she made it outside and to the broom shed in no time.
As she lifted into the air, all previous anger and resentment vanished. A calm that only occurred while flying washed over her. She made a few slow circles, gaze lingering continuously on the moon.
It was so beautiful. Mesmerizing. She could not look away, and found herself lazily flying towards it.
And then, it was no longer the moon, but a face. Pale and beautiful. Dark eyes and a smile even more mesmerizing than the moon had been. It was not a man's face, but not a boy either.
His smile was so warm, welcoming like the bright light he shed. Surprisingly she found herself hovering by his mouth, each of his brilliantly white teeth glittering.
"Who are you?" She wondered out loud, voice soft.
"Why don't you take a guess lovely girl," He cooed.
His voice sent an excited tingle down her spine. "I- I don't know," She replied finally.
His dark eyes twinkled like the stars around them. "I'm everything Ginevra," He said coolly.
Taken aback, Ginny blinked up at him. "How do you know my name?"
He laughed, a lovely sound that made her heart speed up. "Why I know everything about you, sweet girl."
"You- You do?" She asked shocked, and flattered.
"Oh yes. I've been watching you. I've wanted to talk to you for a long time Ginevra." He replied smoothly.
"Why?" She blurted. Surely this lovely creature could not be interested in her. She was positively boring and ordinary.
He laughed again, but this time it was colder. His smile did not seem to reach his eyes and Ginny felt another shiver down her spine that was nowhere near as exciting as it was before.
"Because I've sensed things in you, that reminded me greatly of myself." He explained.
"Like what?" She whispered.
His charming smile seemed to turn into a feral grin. "Hate," He said bitingly.
"What?" She asked aghast.
"Oh yes. You hate them all don't you? For belittling you? Treating you like an infant? You resent them don't you Ginerva? Do not shake your head girl. I have seen it all. I have seen your mind. I have seen your heart. And now, they are mine."
Eyes widened, Ginny stared in horror at the beautiful, but now frightening face.
"You are mine," He hissed, his grin twisting into a smirk.
Horrified, Ginny swiftly turned on her broomstick, urging it to fly as quickly as possible back to the Burrow.
She heard his bone chilling laughter behind her, and suddenly found herself surrounded by faces. All his. All as achingly beautiful, and just as frightening.
Head turning this way and that, she looked for an escape. There was none.
"Mine," The faces echoed around her, and with a lurch her broom disappeared, and she was falling helplessly, screaming so loud she was sure her lungs would burst.
She landed with a loud thud that echoed around the room. Room? What? All was stone here, and it was agonizingly cold. She whirled around, trying to get her bearings but to no avail. This place seemed so familiar, like from a distant memory. But she would surely remember such a place, wouldn't she?
Then, the laughing began once more, and there was no more time to look around. As his laughter boomed all around, Ginny ran as she had never before. She did not know where she was going and the light here was dim. She ran and ran, her side stitching, her breath short.
And then, she collided into something solid. Hitting the ground once more, bottom sore, she stared up at her obstacle.
Long black robes, tall and slim, and with the face that had been haunting her, he stood fully before her.
His smirk was triumphant, and he raised his wand directly to her eye level.
"Mine," He whispered once more.
Ginny could only scream as the green light blinded her, turning all into black.
She awoke with a jolt. Her throat felt raw and her heart hammered in her chest. She was covered in cold sweat.
Ginny sat up and took quick shallow breaths, eyes traveling around her current surroundings. Much to her dismay, her small hope that she would be in her warm and comfy bed back at the Burrow was crushed as she realized she was still in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor.
She had not dreamed of Tom in months. Why was this happening again?! Why why why?! She choked back a sob, glaring at the dark dungeon. Just like in Azkaban, it seemed these places triggered back old memories, dreams, forbidden thoughts.
Frustrated with herself for feeling so vulnerable, she rubbed her eyes, dismissing the tears that had pooled there. Enough crying. She hated it.
She couldn't be sure, but she had a feeling it was still dark out. If so, maybe now was her chance to explore this place. She had searched for it so many times. It had become a small beacon of hope. Surely Twinkie hadn't told her about this place in vain, right?
Her body ached as she tried to get up, and she stumbled, swaying slightly on her feet. Clutching the wall to steady herself, she moaned at the pain racking her body's every movement.
The only sources of light were the few still burning torches in the wall. Stretching to reach the one above her head, she hissed in pain, but managed to take it. She silently cursed Lucius for being the cause of all her current agony.
Oh she would get him back someday. The bastard.
Carefully, and leaning on the wall for assistance, she began to make her way around the large room. It seemed pretty bare. Stone on stone, dank and musty. Then suddenly she saw the wooden table she had seen during her earlier torture.
A large cauldron stood, no longer producing smoke, and filled to the brim with an apparent green substance. Ginny swallowed nervously. Whatever potion Snape had concocted, it couldn't be any good for her.
Debating only for a moment, she shoved the large cauldron, causing it to fall and spill its contents with a loud bang. Wincing at the pain and the noise, she continued hobbling around the room. She figured there was a chance someone had heard that, and she didn't know if she'd have much more time for exploring.
Nothing.
All she saw was stone.
She began to grow frustrated, and she felt so tired she could hardly walk. Emotionally and physically drained, she threw the torch and slunk down the wall, tears filling her eyes once more.
Deciding there was no point in stopping them, she let them flow, sobs racking her body for what felt the thousandth time. Each sob caused another shock of pain, her own body betraying her. Hopelessness took over. It was just too much.
"You know I've always hated when you cried," A smooth voice drawled.
Gasping, she looked up sharply. The torch was still lit, casting a dim light around her. It must be charmed to stay lit.
She looked around the room, the hairs on the back of her neck raised.
She couldn't see anyone in the vicinity, and definitely not close enough to have spoken so softly but heard so clearly.
She knew the voice, so well, it might have been her own. But she was not dreaming now, and that voice was long gone from her life. Had she imagined it? Could she be losing her mind?
It was extremely possible.
Confused, she bit her lip, contemplating what to do.
"Don't just sit there girl, get up and keep searching," The voice was firmer now, more commanding.
Ginny's eyes widened in horror, and she once again looked all around her. Not a soul. She clutched at her temples, closing her eyes tightly and opening them once more.
A pair of dark eyes stared back at her.
She screamed and covered her mouth, her hand shaking. The eyes seemed to glow with a despicable pleasure, teasing.
And then someone was shaking her, yelling something. She could feel herself moving, squirming, resisting.
"Weasley! Ginevra! WAKE UP!"
And then she was awake, and she wasn't staring into dark eyes, but grey ones. They were wide, pupils dilated in apparent fear, or perhaps shock. It was Draco.
She was hyperventilating, trying to catch a breath "What- what's happening? Whe- where am I?" She stuttered.
"You're in the dungeons," He explained, slightly out of breath as well. "I think you must have been having a nightmare. You were shaking and screaming bloody murder."
Ginny swallowed loudly, "It wasn't real?"
He shook his head.
"It felt so real, I could swear he was here." She whispered, tears streaming down her face.
"Who was here?" Draco asked alarmed.
She didn't answer, but burst into sobs. Hesitantly, he put his arms around her, and she cried into his shoulder.
After a few minutes of him holding her gently, she finally managed to control herself. She pulled back slowly. "Why are you comforting me?" She asked quietly.
He shrugged slightly, "I don't know, it felt like the right thing to do."
She smiled tightly, "Your such a boy. They can never watch girls cry."
He shared the smile, "Maybe that's why," he replied, "Could you tell me what you were dreaming about?"
"No," she whispered and looked down. She suddenly noticed she was not where she had fallen asleep earlier that night. She was across from the wooden table, and she was horror struck to see that the cauldron was turned over, green liquid across the floor.
"It did happen. It was real," She started, horror struck.
"No Weasley, you were just dreaming." He reassured her.
"No! No! Look! The potion! In my dream I spilt it!" She cried, tears starting to choke her again.
He looked over to the green puddle and sighed. "I think I have an idea what happened. You must have awoken last night and wandered around. Upon spilling the potion," Here he paused to look at her sternly, "You caused your own nightmare."
She looked at him bewilderedly.
"That potion is supposed to make you loopy to the point of spewing your darkest secrets and giggling about it. It is meant to be taken in a small portion. However once it was spilt, its fumes must have caused you to fall asleep and have hallucinations and nightmares."
She let out a breath of relief. "So it wasn't real?"
"No," He reassured.
She stared at his face, searching for any signs of deceiving. Upon finding none, she could only focus on his lips. They seemed so smooth, and without stopping to think, she touched them gently with her fingertips.
His eyes zoned in on her, slightly widened in surprise.
She drew back her hand quickly, "Sorry," She mumbled.
He stared at her for another moment, leaning in slowly. She followed, finding herself locked in his gaze. His eyes were so hypnotic, demanding and enticing. Their lips were inches apart. He leaned in closer, a breath apart. She closed her eyes, feeling a sudden desire for his lips on hers. Needing the contact, the comfort of strong arms around her.
They did not come.
She opened her eyes quickly, and he drew back sharply, hand running through his hair. He stood up dusting himself off.
"I expect my father should be back sometime today." He said, voice distant. He waved his wand causing the potion to go back into the cauldron as it righted itself on the table.
She eyed it warily.
"This time it won't spill by the way," He added and began walking towards what she presumed was the exit.
He turned around, and gave her an appraising look. "Please consider volunteering information, I wouldn't want to see you anymore bruised and battered than you already are."
"Why do you care?" She asked bitingly. It was as if their tender moment just minutes ago had been forgotten. He seemed like the same old Draco. Aloof and cold.
He smirked softly, "It would be a shame to ruin your pretty face."
With that he was gone.
She let out a huff of frustration at his odd antics, folding her arms across her chest. Yet, she couldn't help but let a small smile grace her lips as she thought of his strangely flattering compliment.
"I'm losing it mate." Draco sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"I could have told you that years ago."
Draco shot a glare at his best friend. "You're not helping Blaise."
Blaise shrugged, looking completely nonchalant in his armchair with a glass of fire whiskey in one hand. "What's driving you bonkers this time?"
Draco plopped on to the armchair across from Blaise, sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Weasley."
Blaise smirked, "Well we knew since day one she would be troublesome."
"Trouble doesn't even begin to describe her."
Blaise's smirk faded as he looked over to Draco. "Out with it."
Draco bowed his head, his eyes never leaving the crackling fire in the fireplace. "I think I'm beginning to-" He paused gathering his words, "To care for her." He spat, sounding like it had physically pained him to say it.
Blaise sighed deeply, "That's not good."
"No," Draco replied.
"She's a Weasley," Blaise stated.
"She is."
"She's a blood-traitor."
"Yes."
"She's your family's prisoner."
"I know."
"Bloody shit." Blaise finished, taking a sip from his glass.
"How could this happen?!" Draco exclaimed, running his hand through his hair once more. "She's just a Weasley! My servant! I've never cared about any silly girls before!"
"There was Elena." Blaise said slowly.
Draco softened, his eyes staring into the red flames once more. "That was different," He whispered.
The pair sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
Blaise was the one to break the quiet. "Is she, you know, showing you less hatred?"
"I'm not sure. I guess so. There was this weird moment today-" He paused and sighed, "Never mind. It's just ever since she took care of me those few weeks, something changed. We had actual conversations, and it felt so easy. She understood me."
"I thought you said you didn't remember much from those weeks," Blaise said, raising a questioning eyebrow.
"Oh please," Draco scoffed, "You know I lied."
Blaise grinned, "I had figured."
They fell into silence again, and Draco took a sip from his untouched glass on the table between them.
"So what are you going to do?" Blaise asked finally.
"I don't know. Nothing I guess. I mean, I just have a hard time watching her suffer you know? She's not a bad person. She just chose the wrong side. It's not like I have serious feelings for her," Draco chuckled slightly, taking another long sip.
Blaise gave his occupied friend a searching look, and then turned back to his own glass.
Draco didn't sound nearly as convincing as he had wanted to, and Blaise was worried.
Theodore checked his watch, and looked up at the sky once more.
The skies were clear tonight, the nearly full moon shedding light all around.
A cool breeze blew, causing him to put his hands back in his robes pockets, shielding them from the cold. Winter was fast approaching, and it was getting colder every day.
He hated winter.
He stomped his feet slightly, letting out a breath to see it mist in the air in front of him. He scowled. Bullocks, he hated the cold.
He glanced ahead at the small wooden cabin, seeming to glow with light, and warmth. He wished he could walk inside, but he knew its many wards would stop him. He had been watching it for hours.
Sitting. Waiting.
It was the cabin in Ireland where they had been sent to find the remaining Aurors. Ever since Draco had told them what he had seen during the battle at the hilltop, he had taken it upon himself to return here and look for anything suspicious.
Because he knew the location of the cabin, he could see it, although he knew it was hidden to other eyes. He had set up camp not far from the cabin, and for the past week he had spent nearly every waking hour watching it.
He studied the cabin and it's few occupants, learning their daily routines. It had been two days after he had began watching when he had seen them. The two Aurors they had thought they killed.
He had known to expect them, and yet could not help but the chill had risen in him upon their appearance. It was impossible, and yet there they were before his eyes.
They had killed them. The curse had hit their bodies, and the life in their eyes had been wiped away. So how? How could they be alive, walking, breathing, and laughing? He couldn't be sure, but he was determined to find out, and fast.
If the Dark Lord found out, they were all dead.
Suddenly nervous, he slipped out a cigarette from the packet in his robes. He lit it with his wand, and inhaled deeply before letting it out into the cold air. He knew it was a nasty Muggle habit, of all things, but it calmed him.
He took another long drag, feeling his nerves calm slightly.
Tonight they would be taking care of this mess. Blaise and Draco were due to meet him here soon. He was glad for some company.
Although they had offered to join him in watching the cabin, he had declined. It would be much harder to be stealthy with two other people. No, he knew it would suit him best, as he was easily the sneakiest of the three.
He had spent a good portion of his life mostly alone, an only child, quieter than most. At Hogwarts he had been pretty closed off, listening in on conversations more than he had been a part of them.
It all had changed at the end of his fifth year though. After Harry Potter had outed his father amongst many other Death Eaters, including Draco's father, he suddenly found himself bonding with his classmates.
He and Draco became good friends, being in similar situations. They understood each other. Blaise had always been close to Draco, but having despised Crabbe and Goyle hadn't spent much time with him around school.
After that year however, they had gotten closer as well and soon they were their own sort of trio.
Theodore had never felt like anything had been missing from his life before befriending the boys. Most of his classmates had seemed loud and quite childish to him. It was only after making friends he realized how much he had been missing.
He had always felt different from all his fellow classmates. All they cared about were relationships, petty school gossip. He had never cared too much about that stuff. He had felt it all to be so… juvenile.
He could only guess it was because he had been forced to grow up faster than most of them. His mother had died when he had been very young. He hardly remembered her to be quite frank. His father had never been around much to begin with, and after his mother had died even less so.
There had been houselves, but other than that, he had pretty much raised himself. He spent most of his days alone, exploring the modest manor he and his father shared.
He loved exploring the grounds most of all. Although their home wasn't considered a very large manor, its grounds were enormous, with a gigantic wood spreading around for acres. He spent many days hiking in those woods, clearing his head.
One day he had discovered a small hilltop, that held on its peak a large boulder. As he had climbed and stood on that boulder, the whole woods laid before him. It was an inspiring view. Trees upon trees stretching out, and above it was a slowly setting sun, clouds tinted orange, skies turning dark.
From then on it had become his spot. His one place away from it all. His absent father, their depressing home, his lonely months at Hogwarts... And as he grew older and his troubles grew it remained his retreat.
How he longed to be there now. He had been so busy lately, so many things were going on. His head felt constantly swirling, and he just needed some peace.
He had thought this week of solitude and solely stalking might present some peace of mind, but it had only made him more confused and concerned. The Aurors impossible reappearance brought up so many questions, and so many problems.
Noticing he was nearly at the filter, he threw down his cigarette and stubbed it out with the heel of his boot.
He checked his watch again and let out a frustrated sigh. Just at that moment, a nearly inaudible pop was heard.
Theodore turned swiftly at the noise, grasp tightening on his wand. He heard a few leaves crunching, a twig snapped, and a figure appeared from behind a tree.
It was Draco, and Blaise was there right behind him.
Theodore let out a breath and loosened the grasp on his wand. "You're late."
Blaise smirked, "Late is better than never."
Theodore grinned.
Draco just stared ahead. "Let's go finish this shall we?" He said quietly, and began walking with purpose toward the cabin.
"What's with him?" Theodore asked Blaise as they began to follow.
Blaise shrugged, "He's always been melodramatic."
"Must be a Malfoy trait," Theodore agreed, but noted to speak with Draco later. Something was on his mind.
The blonde before them stopped suddenly, and they did as well, coming to stand on each side of him.
"The wards are pretty routine, shouldn't take long to get them down," Theodore said, and began to make complicated wand movements, and the other two began to follow his lead.
It took about a minute, and they were through.
Theodore turned to them. "There are four of them. The two we saw in the forest, another boy and another girl. I didn't recognize the other two but obviously that doesn't mean anything since we don't know what we are dealing with."
Draco nodded, calculating the information quickly. "We'll all enter together then. They outnumber us, but we have the element of surprise. No hesitation, stun them as soon as you can."
Theodore nodded, "I'm going to put the wards back up, so they can't apparate." He did so in a matter of seconds.
"Onward then," Blaise said and the three walked briskly on to the threshold.
Blaise quickly unlocked the front door, and the three burst in, wands held high.
All four Aurors were scattered around the fairly large sitting room. It took them about a second to assess each other but it was all the boys needed. Theodore managed to stun one unknown male. Blaise had managed to stun two, and Draco was in a heavy duel with the male Auror they had supposedly killed last time.
Theodore turned to the look at the middle of the room, where Draco stood tall, his eyes murderous.
The male Auror he was fighting and limping, a grin etched on his face. Theodore did not hesitate, he stunned the man from across the room, and Draco looked over to him.
"I would have gotten him," He said heatedly.
"I know," said Theodore, stepping over the stunned man's body, "but we shouldn't waste time."
Draco's scowl dropped and he sighed. "I suppose so. Gather them up."
Each man levitated one of the Aurors', gathering all four in a line, each bound in thick ropes.
"Whom should we start with?" Blaise contemplated.
Theodore appraised the four. There were the two from the forest. The other man looked young, probably only a few years older than him. He was dark haired with a rather wide nose, and a scar on his cheek.
His gaze turned to the girl. He was stunned to see she looked no older than seventeen at best. She had long blonde hair, a very slightly hooked nose, and she held a small cut above her eyebrow. There was something intriguing about her.
"Let's wake them all," Draco said finally.
Blaise shot him a confused look, "All? At once?"
Draco nodded, "I want to know how they are connected and how deeply. I want to turn them against each other. I want them to witness each other's pain in order to assess who cares for who."
Blaise whistled, "Cold mate."
But smart.
It was cold, truly, but smart.
Theodore glanced at Draco. He seemed detached today. He had gotten to know him well, and he could tell something was definitely bothering him. And of course he was taking it out on the Aurors in front of him.
Draco didn't respond, but waved his wand, reviving all four at once.
To give them credit, none of them uttered a sound, as they glared at the three men before them.
There was a tense silence in the room. Theodore decided to take charge for now, as Draco was scowling silently and Blaise was well… being Blaise.
He put on his cruelest sneer, beginning the game.
That's all it was.
A game.
If he didn't think of it as such, he could never play it.
"I'm going to tell you all right now, that lying won't get you anywhere. Nor will keeping quiet." He said calmly, wand in hand.
"You'll just kill us all anyway, so what does it matter?"
He turned his head sharply, surprised that the speaker was the youngest of the group, the blonde girl. She had the fiercest scowl of them all, her eyes narrowed. He was about to reply when he suddenly noticed her eyes. They were light brown, even golden possibly. He couldn't help but be drawn to them. They were beautiful.
He shook himself out of his stupor quickly as Blaise was the one to answer the girl.
"Who said we'd kill you lovely? We can be merciful."
It was the other woman, the girl Auror they had met before who spoke up now. "Yeah, right." Her voice was sarcastic, and Theodore raised his eyebrows. Something was different about her voice.
Blaise smirked, "Oh you'd be surprised love. We are only here because of you though."
"Me?" She asked aghast.
"You and daddy dearest," Blaise said and motioned to the elder Auror whose glare was vicious.
She blinked in surprise.
"He didn't tell you did he?" Draco said, appearing from the shadows, "He's your father Grace."
Her eyes widened, whether from this new information or the use of her name, Theodore did not know.
The elder Auror scoffed. "I'm not her father."
"Don't lie Gill," Blaise said smoothly, "Don't think we forgot all about your confession last time."
His eyes widened as well. "Well I- yes Grace. I'm sorry. I am your father," he said, bowing his head in shame.
Theodore squinted. There was something off in his voice as well. And his attitude. Something was seriously amiss.
Grace and the others looked seriously confused. "I- um… how couldn't you tell me Gill?" She said slowly.
Theodore studied her carefully, and swiftly pointed his wand between her eyes. "When Gill here first introduced himself, who did he say he was?!"
"He- well he, said he was an Auror named Gill Reed. That's all really," She said panicked, breathing ragged.
Theodore lowered his wand, studying the pair.
"Polyjuice potion," He muttered to himself. "They were using polyjuice potion!" He exclaimed suddenly and both Draco and Blaise turned to look at him, realization forming on each face.
Draco's eyes were stone as he turned his wand to Gill's face. All three other Aurors looked in horror upon the scene.
"Who are you?! Are you Gill? Or just pretending?! Spit it out before I torture you to the brink of death, bring you back and torture you some more!" He shouted, fury etched into every line of his face.
Draco was in a foul mood, and he hated being outsmarted, ever. Theodore felt an ounce of pity for the Auror on the other end of the blonde's wand.
"Well?!" Draco yelled impatiently, and when the Auror continued to gape at him, said calmly "Crucio."
Gill squirmed and writhed, screaming. His fellow Aurors cringed, feeling his pain so near them.
"Stop it!" The dark haired Auror shouted.
"Or what?" Blaise sneered.
But Draco really did release the man from the curse.
"Talk," He spat, venom in his tone.
Gill actually looked quite frightened, not nearly like the tough Auror they had met in the forest.
"I- we- I," He stuttered, head twisting trying to see his fellow prisoners. "We were given instructions," He mumbled but was interrupted.
"Shut up!"
"Shut it!"
"Don't tell them anything!"
The other Aurors hissed at him, and his eyes filled with shame.
"I wouldn't listen to your friends. They aren't the ones who will be causing you pain." Draco said coolly.
"No, but we'll happily cause you pain," The blonde girl shot, wriggling slightly in her bonds.
Theodore's gaze traveled back to her. "What's your name?" He demanded before Draco could turn his wand on her.
"Lia, and yourself?" She replied easily.
He smirked. "We're going to be your worst nightmare if you don't shut it Lia."
She blinked, "You don't seem to scary."
Blaise sighed, waving his wand and silencing her. He shrugged, "She was giving me a headache."
Theodore grinned. "Quick on her feet though."
Draco frowned, "She reminds me of Weasley."
Theodore raised an eyebrow but did not reply. He saw Blaise throw Draco a similar glance, but Draco was too lost in thought to notice.
The four Aurors were staring at them in pure confusion.
"My life is like a wound I scratch so I can bleed
Regurgitate my words, I write so I can feed
And Death grows like a tree that's planted in my chest
Its roots are at my feet, I walk so it won't rest
Oh, Baby I am Lost...
I try to push the colors through a prism back to white
To sync our different pulses into a blinding light
And if love is not the key. If love is not a key.
I hope that I can find a place where it could be
I know that in your heart there is an answer to a question
That I'm not as yet aware that I have asked
And if that tree had not drunk my tears
I would have bled and cried for all the years
That I alone have let them pass
Oh, Baby I am yours..."- Different Pulses, Asaf Avidan
Draco threw his cloak down with a sigh, running a hand through his hair.
It had been a long night, and all he wanted was to do was get in to bed and let sleep take over. Getting ready swiftly, he did just so, ready for some peace of mind.
It did not come.
The events of the night replayed over and over in his mind, taunting him away from sleep.
Theodore's theory had been right. The Aurors had indeed been using polyjuice potion. It had been their backup plan, knowing that the Death Eaters were searching for them. If anyone of the group was captured and killed, the others were to take turns assuming their deceased comrades' place. They had actual sacks of hair that belonged to each Auror, each snipping off a small amount every week or so. It was quite disgusting, and his lip curled just thinking about it.
All of that had been done simply in order to confuse them, the Death Eaters.
It was silly and pointless really.
Or was it? They had been in utter anxiety thinking they were still alive somehow. His guess was that the Aurors had expected them to report the odd circumstances back to the Dark Lord, thus causing panic among the ranks, thinking perhaps the other side had some secret weapons their side didn't know about.
But they had failed, because Draco and Blaise and Theodore were no fools. They did not run off reporting the strange sightings before investigating, and the only people who had panicked were themselves.
It satisfied him that at least now he could put that concern to rest, knowing their secret.
A secret that, in one night, had completely backfired and ended all their lives.
He grimaced remembering their faces, four in a row, eyes dark and unseeing. They were all close to his age. It could have easily have been someone he had known.
Hell, it could be him soon.
The war seemed never ending. Constant battles. Constant deaths.
He rolled over, gazing out the large window across from where he was lying. It had started raining earlier, and it had turned into a full-fledged storm by this point.
His thoughts flashed back to the blonde Auror, the young one, Lia. She had lasted the longest.
It was uncanny how her behavior had so resembled Weasley's. Stubborn, uncooperative, sharp-tongued and in insane capacity under torture.
To be fair, he had found it hard to torture the girl and had dealt mostly with the others. The more she had spoken the more he saw her with red-hair and different features. And then he could only see the small, said red-head, curled up in a bruised ball in the dungeons.
His fist clenched at the thought. And then again, why did he care? It was so incredibly frustrating. She was the enemy!
He wondered how she had faired today? His father had surely returned, bent on getting his answers.
A sudden burning need to see her, check on her, set in. For the second night in a row, he slipped out of the comfort of his bed, and made his way to the dungeons. His lack of sleep lately was getting extremely irritating, and it always seemed like it had to do with her. Why was she so troubling to him suddenly. It was maddening.
Wand lighting the large stone rooms, his eyes searched for the small figure. To his disbelief, no such figure was in sight.
"Weasley!" He whispered harshly.
Silence.
"Weasley!" He called again, louder now.
"Over here."
He turned in the direction of the noise, wand shedding light on to a far, dark corner. She was huddled there, hands hugging her knees to her chest.
She looked like a lost child, and it pained him to see her so small and vulnerable. He was so used to her standing tall, a force to be reckoned with. Now she seemed so breakable, it was disarming.
"I thought you were him," She said harshly.
"Him? My father?"
"No," She said, voice softer now, far away.
His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Who then?"
She gazed at him lengthily and shook her head. "Never mind, it's not important. He's not important."
Draco was confused, but decided to drop it. He approached her slowly, trying to assess the damage. He could see nothing worse than yesterday, in fact she looked stronger than she had previously.
"Was my father here today?" He asked, crouching down to her level.
She shook her head once more. "No. No one was here today. Just you. But then you left. And I was alone, but it felt like he was here." She sounded off, and she was staring, not at him but through him. It was as if she could not see him at all.
He placed a hand gently on her knee, "You aren't alone now. I'm here."
Her gaze shifted, and she stared at him, as if realizing he was here for the first time. Her brown eyes brimmed suddenly with tears.
"I- I don't know what's happening to me Draco," She whispered, the sound of his name foreign coming from her. "I think I'm starting to lose my mind," She added slowly, a tear slipping down her cheek.
He looked at her searchingly, lost for words. He wanted to say something to make her feel better. To make her stop crying.
But what could he say? That she was going to be all right? He couldn't promise that. That she wasn't losing her mind? He couldn't be sure about that. Hell, they were all losing their minds. In war times, no one was truly sane.
So he did not reply. He wiped the tear that had escaped, brushing her cheek softly with his thumb.
She closed her eyes at the contact, more tears slipping.
He was lost. This girl was falling apart in front of him, and he felt a need to put her back together. She had done so for him. He owed her. And so, he pressed his lips slowly to hers, cupping her cheek softly. If all he could give her was some contact, some comfort, then he would.
He pulled back softly, and she was looking at him with wide eyes.
"I'm sorry," He said quietly.
"For what?" She whispered.
"Everything."
She locked eyes with him, and then looked down at his lips. "Kiss me again," She demanded softly.
"I don't think it would be right. You're just feeling vulnerable right now, I shouldn't have before." He said, voice apologetic.
"Please Draco."
She had said it so tenderly, her voice on the edge of begging. He was conflicted, but upon gazing at her again, at her sad eyes he knew he could not deny her. Not if this gave her some sort of consolation.
He kissed her again, gently. She responded, pulling him closer, demanding.
He knew this was wrong. He knew that they were just both lost, lonely, seeking comfort.
He knew he was weak for giving in to her.
And yet he couldn't bring himself to break away.
He would hate himself in the morning, but for now, for this night he would just forget. Forget who he was, who she was, which sides they were fighting for.
As long as they were locked together, they could survive this night.
A/N- There it is, hopefully I'll be able to get the next chapter up much sooner. Again I am truly sorry for the long delay! Hope you enjoyed, and of course reviews are very welcome! Until next time darlings...